Medical

The medical program in Argentina is designed for pre-medical and medical students looking to gain experience in the health care field and learn about the issues that the Argentine medical system is facing. Placements in this program are available in both a large public hospital and a community health center.  At the hospital, participants will join a group of Argentine medical residents to observe examinations and assist with other tasks in the hospital.  Interns with the health care center, which focuses on bringing treatment and disease prevention to impoverished communities, will assist in administrative tasks as well as help local doctors with community involvement workshops, prevention campaigns, and patient care.

We are also seeking volunteers to work in a center for children affected by HIV. This placement is ideal for public health or medicine students with a strong interest in HIV education and prevention.

One of our previous interns describes her experience in the following quote:

"I generally worked from about 8/8:30am to 12/12:30 Mon-Fri.  The first two weeks I was with Dr. Di Meglio. She was an obstetrician. I helped to check-over patients by measuring women’s bellies, finding the baby’s heart rate, checking for edema and determining what side of the stomach the baby was on and what position it was in. She was the most “hands-on” doctor and had me do the most and explained the most about different diseases that affected women and their babies during pregnancy.

The next two weeks I was with Dr. Romero, a pediatrician for babies up to about 1 month. She had me measure babies’ heads and body length and weigh them. Dr. Romero had quite a few more patients and moved them in and out quite a bit more quickly than Dr. Di Meglio and so didn’t really explain a lot-though she did point out things like the importance of the soft spot on a baby’s head and the signs of a premature baby.

The next 2 weeks I was in surgery. I saw quite a few surgeries such as a man getting a tumor removed from his throat, a woman getting her uterus removed because it had a tumor and a man get a tumor taken off the top of head. Obviously I didn’t do anything during surgeries besides watch!

The next 2 weeks I was in la guardia (the ER, sort-of, it’s really more of a clinic). I observed different doctors checked over adults with colds, pneumonia, the flu, broken bones, etc. I mainly observed in la guardia.

The next week I was with Dr. Sanchez, a neonatologist who examines babies born in the last 3 days. She also teaches mothers how to breastfeed and how to dress their babies. Dr. Sanchez explained about different diseases that often affect babies and also about the vaccinations required in Argentina. I helped weigh some babies and mainly observed."

   - Megan F. Medical Intern

Interns in this program must have a high to intermediate level of Spanish knowledge.